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Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was in Dover to launch an attack on Conservative spending plans which, she said, could lead to a reduction of 93 police officers in Kent.

She was speaking at a meeting with local members of the Labour Party at The Ark Christian Centre in Noah's Ark Road.

Ms Smith said Dover had benefited from significant funding in its police force, with overall crime in the South Kent area reduced by 6.9 per cent year on year due to Labour government investment.

~Listen: Home Secretary Jacqui Smith speaks on policing in Kent - and why there won't be a Sangatte 2>>>

Her criticism followed announcements by David Cameron that he intends to restrict the Home Office’s budget to a one per cent real terms increase for 2009/10, which Labour say would require a cut of £160 million in three months’ time.

"As Home Secretary I know what an important role each of our police officers play in keeping the streets and neighbourhoods of Dover safe," said Ms Smith.

"There are now Neighbourhood Policing Teams at work in every area of England and Wales, and since 1997, police numbers are up by more than 14,000 nationwide, alongside nearly 16,000 Community Support Officers.

"I’m committed to making sure there’s a visible police presence on our streets. Unfortunately, David Cameron cannot say the same. His plans for sudden cuts in the Home Office budget would be equivalent to slashing the number of police officers in England and Wales by more than 3,500."

Dover MP Gwyn Prosser said a reduction in the number of police officers would be "a devastating blow".

"The South Kent area has been at the forefront of Labour’s community policing initiative, benefiting enormously from the introduction of Police Community Support Officers on our streets. In fact anti-social behaviour is down nearly 20 per cent year on year since the advent of the PCSOs."

Mr Prosser said it was important for Ms Smith to come to Dover to see what was happening, just as previous Home Secretaries had done. He said Ms Smith would be visiting Dover again in the future to see the work being done by the Border Agency staff at the port "and other good news stories".